Electropneumatic brake



May 7, 1929. T. H. THOMAS 1,711,760

ELECTROPNEUMATIC B RAKE Filed Feb. 14, 192s THOMAS HrrHoMAs 92 BY wolf@ATTORNEY 'ranma May 7, i929.

l 'l' E Price.

Perser THOMAS H. THOES, 0F EDGEWGGD,PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOR TO THEWESTING- HOUSE AIE, BRAKE COMPANY, 0F WLMERDING, EENNSYLVANIA., ACORPUR-A- TION Ol" PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTROPNEUMATIG BRAKE.

This invention relates to electro-pneu-r matic brakes Aanjd moreparticularly to the type in which the brakes are controlled eitherelectrically or pneumatically. j

@ne object of this invention is to provide an improved brake apparatusoit the above type, having,` positive and automatic means for c rangingvthe brake control 'from electric to pneumatic or from pneumatic toelectric.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved Ameans forquickly obtainiinga higii brake cylinder pressure, when' aneiiiei'pjency application of the brakes is effected electrically, but'for delaying the obtaii'iing of a highubrake cylinder 'pressure, whenan emergency application of the brakes is elliected` pneumatically.

Other objects and advantages will appear in thek following more detaileddescription of my invention.

ln the accompanying' drawing, the single figure' is a diagrammatic view,partly in section, oft an electro-pneumatic brake apparatus embodying myinvention. Y

As shown in the drawing, the. brake apparatus coii'iprises a controlvalve device, a

coiiihined emergency switch and vent valve p device, an auxiliaryreservoir, an emergency reservoir., a quick action reservoir and a'brake cylinder.

lie control valve device comprises a mag? net portion 1, a triple valveportion 2, an ciiiersgency valve portion` 3, and an emergreuey lay-passvalve portion 4l, said portions being` mounted lon a common bracket 5.Associated with the triple valve portion is a change-over valve portion6.

The magnet valve portion 1 comprises a iiian'iiet 7 which Vis subject tovariationsfin current i'iow through a train wire 8, and is adai'ited tocontrol two independently mov-. able armatures 9 rand 10.

'lhe armature 9 isV acted upon by a spring 11 adapted to oppose themagnetic 'force of the magnet 7 when energized, and has a stem 12extending' downwardly through a central openingi` in the magnet. Mountedou the lower end ot said stein is a flange 13, adapted to engage .onearm o'ifalever 14 and rotate said lever about a lined pin 15. rlhe otherarin of said lever is adapted to enoage Athe luted stem 16 of a doublebeat valve 17, which is contained in a valve chamber 18. Said valve alsohas a iluted stem; 41 at the opposite side, said stem eX- teiidingthrough a partition wall in the casing and into a chamber .19, wherein aend oi an external sleeve 25 and a ,collarV 26A termed at the outer endof an internal sleeve` 27, which has screwsthreaded engagement in theariiiature'lO. The rim .of the diaphragm isfclamped between a shoulder28 in the casing-and a nut 29 having screwthreaded engagement in theside wall ofthe casing, the sleeves 25 and 27 being' adapted to operatethrough a central opening,` formed in said nut. rl`he diaphragm 24 hasat one side 'a chamber 39, which is connectedto they atmosphere througha passage 31 and has at n the opposite side a chamber 32. vrllhe iflutedstem oi a valve 33 is disposed in a central bore Bel in the sleeve 27and the valve is adapted to seat on a valve seat provided in the sleevecollar 26, said valve beingr urged from itsseat bya spring 35 and being;adapted to control. con'imunicatioiibetween chambers 30 and 32 by way ofbore 3ft in the sleeve 27 and ports 36 in the side Wall of the sleeves25 and 27.

A valve 37, in axial alignment with the valve 38, is contained iii achamber 38 and has a fluted stem 39 extending through a partition walll0 and adapted toeiigage and be operated by. tl'ievalve 33, theunseating ot said valve 37 being' opposed by the pressure of a spring42. f n

y The tiiple valve portion comprises a casing having;` a chamber l2-lconnected to the brake pipe 14 through a passage 45 and containing apiston 46, which'is adapted to op crate a main slide valve i7 and anauxiliary slide valve 48 contained in a valve chan'iher 4:9. The valvechamber 49 is connected to an auxiliary reservoir 50 through passage andpipe 51, said passa-ge also being connected to valve chamber 38 andspring` chamber 19 of the magnet portion 1.

Associated with the triple valve portion is the change-over valveportion 6, which comprises a casinpf having a cylindrical borecontaining two pistons 52 and 58, operatively connected together by astem 54;. The piston has a chamber 55 adjacent its outer face, thepiston has a chamber 56 adjacent its outer face, while inter-mediatesaid pistons is a chamber 57 containing a vslide valve 58 adapted to beoperated by said pistons.

The emergency valve portion 3 comprises a casing); having a chamber 59,connected to the brake pipe 44 through passage and ecrit-airline apiston 60 adapted vto operate a main s 'de valve 61 and an auxiliaryslide yvalvet). contained in a Avalve chamber G3, said valve chamlferbeing' connected to the quick action reservoir Gel through a passage andpipe 65. A valve piston 6G is disposed in cylindrical bore in thecasing` and has at one side a chamber 57 and the opposite side achan'iber 68 containing a spring 69 tending to seat the valve pistonagainst a Y seat ring; in chamber 07.

The emergency lay-pass valve portion l comprises a casing having achamber 71 containing a piston 72, and a valve cl nnber 7?) containino,Ia slide valve 74l adapted to be operated by said piston, outwardmovement oil? the piston being,` opposed by the pressure of a spring 75.

rllhe emergency switch device and vent valve device are preferablyassociated together, the switch device eompriisine a piston 7 6 havingat one side a chamber 77 and at the opposite side a chamber 78. Saidpiston has a stem 79 extendirhg,` upwardlv throw1 the top Wall of thechamber 7 8. Mmm

on the outer end or the stem 79 is a switch member 80, which is adaptnl.to normally connect two lle. ible contaiizt Vlingers 81 in the circuitol? the train wire 8, a spring` 82, contained in char-ber 78, beingemployed to urge the switch rpiston 70 downwardly, thereby lending tomaintain the circuit closed in train Wire 8. The vent valve dovicecinnprises a piston having at one side a chamber 811 connected to theswitch piston chamber 77 through passage 85 and having* at the oppositeside a chamber cormected to the atmosphere through a passage 87. tia-idpiston has a stem 88 extending downwardly through an opei'ling( in aWall separatinfchanlber 85 from a chamber 89. Mounted on said stem is avent valve 90 adapted to be operated by the piston 88, the vent valvebeing` urged toward a seat rino; 91 by a spring 92 actingv on anextension oli the piston stem 88.

Suitable means (not shovv'n) are provided for varying;` the currentl'low through the magnet 7 and when the current flow is oit sutlicientstrength, the magnetic pull of the magnet 7 on the armature 10 will besuch that 'the opposing` pressure of spring 22 actingr through stem 23is overcome and thel armature l0 With the diapl-.ragm 24 will be movedupwardly to a position in which the valve .37 is seated by the actionol' sprinpv fil-2, while the valve 33 unseated by the upward movement of'the valve seat thereof.- The magnetic pull ol" Athe magnet 7 on thearmature 9v also overcomes the opposing pressure of spring' 11, so vthatthe armature moves the stem l.J and the 'harige 13 downwardly,permitting` movement or lever 14, so that the double beat valve 17 isseated in its upper position by the spring` 20.

Fluid under pressure sugjfplied to the brake pipe 44, flows therefromthrough passaggio l5 to the triple valve piston chamber 4B, Wherein saidpressure acts uponthe piston #116, thereby shitting said piston and theslide valves i7 and 18 to release position, as shown in the drawing, Thevalve chamber All) is then charged from said piston chamber througheednroove 94 around the piston 4G, and the amnliary reservoir 50 ischarged from said valve chamber through passage and pipe 51, as Well asthe valve chamber and springh chamber 19 et' the magnet valve portion.seated in its `upper position, the emergency by-pass valve pistonchamber 71 isl charged with fluid from the auxiliary reservoir by tloivfrom chamber 19 to chamber 18 and from thence through passage rl`hepressure of spring 75 normally maintains the bypass piston 72 and slidevalve 74t-V in the inner position, so that fluid under pressure isthereby permitted to lovv from the piston chamber 71 to the slide valvechamber 73 by Way o'l passage 96, 4aast a ball check valve 97 and tromthence through pa'ssagev 98.

llluid at auxiliary reservoir pressure also flows from passage 95,through a'ehole plug*- 99 and passage 100 to the chanac-over valvepiston chamber 5G and shifts Y over valve pistons 53 and 52 and slidevalve to the electric operat'A in the drawing. This s possible, sincethe chai'ige--wer valve piston chamber 55 is vented to the atmosphere,when the magnet 7 is energized, by Way of passage .1.01, past theunseated magnet valve through springi` chamber and ports 3b' in thesleeves 25 and 27, chamber 30 and 'trom thence tlirough the atmosphericpassage 3l. The valve chamber 57 intermediate the change-over valvepistons, is charged with fluid' under pressure from the triple valvechamber L19 through passage 102.

lVith the elmnge-over slide valve 58 in electric operating position, andthe magnet 7 in release position, brake cylinder 103 vented to theatmosphere through pipe and passage 104, cavity 105 in the change-overslide valve 58 and the passage 101.

The emergency vvalve piston chamber 59 is charged with lluid Linder`pressure from position as shown.

Sinre the double beat valve 17 is l Y various chambers, the auXiliaryreservoir 50,

emergency reservoir 109 and quick action reservoir 64 are alsorecharged.

l/Vhen the electric control is not in use and the electric circuit ofthe magnets 7 throughout the train remains open or the supply of currentis temporarily cut oil", the magnet 7 on every car in the train isdeenergized and the change-over slide valve'53 is therefore maintainedin the pneumatic position, tov

the right, since the piston chamber 55 is charged with fluid underpressure from the.

auxiliary reservoir 50 by way of the unseated magnet valve 37, and thepiston chamber 56.

is vented to the atmosphere byway of the double beat valve 17 in themagnet portion, which valve is seated in the lower position. ln thispneumatic position, the brake cylinder 103 is connected to the seat ofthe triple valve slide valve 47 through passage 104, cavity 105 in thechange-over slide valve 5S and passage 123.

lf, with the magnets thus deenergized, it is desired to pneumaticallyoperate the brakes, the brake pipe pressure may be gradually reduced inthe well lknown manner7 so as to'cause the triple valve to move toservice position, in which fluid 'under pressure is permitted to flowfrom the auxiliary reservoir 50 to the brake cylinder 103 throughpassage 51, valve chamber 49, service port 124 in the slide valve 47 andA passage 123. In order to effect an emergency application of thebrakes, the brake pipe pressure is suddenly reduced, thereby causing thetriple valve to move to emergency position, in which the emergency port125 in the slide valve 47 registers with the passage 123, so as topermit a faster rate of ilow of luid under pressure from thev auX-iliary reservoir to the brake cylinder. When the brake pipe pressure isrestored, the triple valve is shifted back to release position, in whichthe brake cylinder is vented to the atmosphere through passage 123,cavity 126, in the slide valve 47 and the atn'iospheric passage 127.

l/Vhe-n the brake pipe pressure is reduced to apply the brakes inservice, as above described, the emergency piston 60 is shifted upwardlyand causes the auxiliary slide valve 62 to uncover the port 132 in themain slide valve 61. Fluid under pressure then ilows from the valvechamber 63 and quick action reservoir 64 to the atmosphere at arestricted rate, through said port 132, passage 85, port 119 in the ventvalve piston 83 i and passage 87, so as to reduce the pressure acting onthe opposite sides ot the emergency piston 60 at substantially the samerate and thereby prevent said piston from moving further upwardly toemergency position.

When the brake pipe pressure is suddenly reduced and the triple valve isthereby moved to emergency position, the emergency valve piston 60visalso shifted to emergency position 1n order to propagate quick emergencyaction and to control the building up of a high brake cylinder pressure,in the'following manner. In emergency position o'l the emergency slidevalves 61 and 62, huid under pressure liows from the valve chamber 63and quick action reservoir 64y to the i vent valve piston chamber 84,through port 132 in the emergency slide valve 61 and passage and pipe85.l The vent valve piston 83 is thereby operated and unseats the ventvalve and thus locally connects the brake pipe 44 to theatmosphere.through the atmospheric port 87 in the sine wall oit the'casing'.v Since the vent valve piston chamber 84 is connected to theatmosphere through the restricted port 119 in the piston 83 and theatmospheric passage 87 in the casing, the pressure of the luid in theemergency valve chamber 63 reduces at a predetermined rate.

With the magnet 7 deenergized and the change-over slide valve 58 inpneumaticposition, the by-pass valve piston chamber 71 is connected tothe atn'iosphere past the double beat magnet valve 17, and the bypassslide valve chamber y73 is connected to the atmosphere through passage128, cavity -129 in slide valve 58 and the atmospheric passage 130, sothat the by-pass piston 72 fluid. in valve piston chamber 68l reduceswith the pressure in the emergency valve chamber (i3. W'hen saidpressure is thus reduced a predetermined degree, the opposing emergencyreservoir pressure in chamber 67, outside of the seat ring 7 0,- shiftsthe valvepiston 66 to its downward position, in which fluid underpressure is permitted to flow from the emergency reservoir 109 to thebrake cylinder 103, by way ot' pipe and passage 114, chamber 67 andpassage and pipe 104, thus building up a high brake cylinder pressure. i

vlt will therefore be noted that in pneumatic emergency operation, thehigh brake cylinder pressure is no t obtained immediately'as in electricemergency operation, but is delayed a predetermined time, governed bythe rate ot reduction in the pressure of the fluid in the emergencyvalve chamber 63 and valve piston chamber 68.

It will further be noted, that the positioning oil the change-over slidevalve 58 is positive for both electric and pneumatic o pcration, sincethe position ol said valve depends entirely upon Whether or not themagnet 7 is energized. It said magnet is energized the change-over valvepiston chainber 55 is vented and the piston chamber 5G is charged withfluid under pressure from the auxiliary reservoir 50, so that the slidevalve is maintained 'in the electric operatin' position, to the left. Ifsaid magnet is deenergized, the piston chamber 55 is charged with fluidat auxiliary reservoir pressure, while the cliaii'iber is vented, sothat the slide valve S is maintained in the pneumatic operating`position, to the right llVhile one illustrative embodiment. ot theinvention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limitits scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the Aterms of theappended claims.

Having novv described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an'electro-pneumatic brake, the combination With a brake pipe anda brake cylinder, oiC means tor supplying liuid at high pressure to thebrake cylinder in an emergency application of the brakes, means, the

operation oi 'which is electrically initiated, for ellecting; theoperation et said high pressure n'icans, and means, the operation ofwhich is initiated by a reduction in brake pipe pressure, For alsoeli'eciting the operation of said hi gh pressure means.

2. In an electro-pneuniatic brake, the combination with a brake pipe, ota brake pipe vent valve device operative to eiect a reduction in brakepipe pressure, an operating valve device tor effecting the operation oi?said vent valve device, electrically controlled means for el'lfectingthe operation of said operating` valve device, and a valve deviceoperated upon a sudden reduction in bral'ce-pressure lior alsoeffecting` the operation oiA said vent valve device.

3. In an electro-pneui'natic brake, the combination with a brake pipe,of electrically controlled means for effecting` an emergency applicationof the'brakes, a switch device for controlling the circuit of saidelectrically controlled means and controlled by said electricallycontrolled means, and means operated upon a sudden reduction vin brakeypipe pressurelor also eilecting the operation ot said switch device.

Ll. Inr an electro-pneumatic brake, the combination with a brake pipe,oi' electrically controlled means operated upon de enei'gization foreffecting` an emergency application of the brakes, a switch deviceoperated upon denergization of said electrically controlled means 'foropening the circuit of said electrically controlled means,

and means operated upon a sudden reduc-l tion in brake pipe pressure foroperating said switch device to open said circuit.

5. In an electro-pneumatic brake, the` combination with a brake pipe,oi? electrically controlled means :for cilecting an emergencyapplication ot the brakes, a switch device for controlling the circuit0i said electrically controlled means, a vent valve device forvei'itingg` liuid under pressure 'from the brake pipe, means, theoperation of Which is controlled by said electrically controlled means,lor ellectinp the operation ,of said switch. device and said vent valvedevice, and means, the operation oi: .vl'iicl'i is- Ainitiated by asudden reduction in brake pipe pressure for also eiiecting` theolLeration ol said switch device and said vent valve device.

G. In an electro-pneumatic brake, the coni- I bination With means forcontrolling the brakes electrically and means lor controlling` thebrakes pneumatically, of means controlled by said electric control meansindepe dently of said pneumatic control means lor rendering` either theelectric or the pneu-Y matic control means eilective to control thebrakes.'

7. In an elcetro-pneumatic brake, the

combination with means for' coi'itrolling the brakes electrically andmeans iior controllingI the brakes pneumatically, oli means havingy oneposition in which the electric brake con trolling` means is renderedeffective to control the brakes and another position in which thepneumatic brake controlling mea is is rendered effective to control thebrakes, the.

tion in which the release of the brakes is' effected through saidIelectrically controlled means and another position in which the releaseof the brakes is elliected through said brake pipe pressure controlledvalve device, the operation of said change-over valve device beingcontrolled by said electrically controlled means `independently of saidbrake pipev pressure controlled valve device.,V

9. In an electro-pneumatic brake, the coinbination with means forelfecting an emergency application of the brakes at high pressure, ofelectrically controlled means for effecting the operationV of said highpressure means, nneumatically controlled means `for alsoeffectingtlieopeiation of said high llO lZE

pressure means, and means for delaying the operation ol said highpressure means when the operation o'r' saidk high pressure means isellected by said pneumatically controlled means.

l0. ln an electro-pneumatic brake, the combination with a brake pipe anda brake cylinder, or' valve means for controlling the supply of fluid athigh pressure to the brake cylinder' in an emergency application of the'brakes, electrically controlled means for efiecting the operation of4said valve means, a valve device operated upon a sudden reduction inbrake pipe pressui'e lior also effecting the operation of said valvemeans, and means operative to delay the operation oli said valve meanswhen said valve means is operated through the operation ol said valvedevice.

ll. ln an electro-pneumatic brake, the combination With means lforcontrolling the brakes pneumatically, of means for controlling thebrakes electrically having means to ellect a service application of thebrakes and means to ell'lect an emergency application oli' the brakes,and a valve device having one position in which the electric brakecontrolling means is rendered ellective and anotherr iosition in whichthe pneumatic brake controlling means is rendered ell'ective, said valvedevice being held in its pneumatic operating position by the operationof the electric emergency controlling means.

12.111 an electro-pneumatic brake, the combination with pneumatic meansfor controlling the brakes, a magnet, valve means operated by saidmagnet 'for effecting a service application of the brakes, and separatevalve means operated by said magnet, of 4a change-over valve devicehaving one position lor controlling` the brakes pneumatically and.another position for controlling the brakes electrically, saidchange-over valve device being controlled by said separate valve means.

13. ln an electro-pneumatic brake, the combination with pneumatic meansfor controlling the brakes, a magnet, valve means operated b v saidmagnet for ellecting a service application o'li the brakes, and separatevalve means operated by said magnet, of a a change-over valve devicehaving a position y in which the brakes are controlled pneumatically anda position in which the brakes are controlled electrically and movableby a reduction in fluid pressure to the pneumatic position, and meanscontrolled by said electrically controlled means 'tor venting lluidunder pressure from said change-over valve device.

l5. ln an electro-pneumatic brake, the combination with pneumatic meansfor controlling the brakes and electrically con-` trolled means Yforcontrolling the brakes, of a change-over valve device having a positionin which the brakes are controlled pneumaticall i and a position inwhich the brakes are controlled electrically and movable by areductionrin lluid pressure to the pneumatic position, and meansoperated upon deenergization of said electrically controlled means forventing fluid under pressure from said change-over valve device.

16. In an electro-pneumatic brake, the combination with. pneumatic meansfor controlling the brakes, electrically controlled means for elfectingaservice application of the brakes, and electrically controlled means foreilecting an emergency application ott' the brakes, of a change-overvalve device having a position for controlling the brakes pneumaticallyand a position lor controlling the brakes electrically-and movable by areduction in fluid pressure to the pneumatic position, and meanscontrolled by said einern gency electrically controlled means forventing fluid from said change-over valve device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS H. THOMAS.

